Know the cosmos and our place within it
Empowering the world’s citizens to advance space science and exploration
Whoever you are, you have the power to make space exploration happen. Join us!
In 1980, Carl Sagan, Louis Friedman, and Bruce Murray founded The Planetary Society. They saw that there was enormous public interest in space, but that this was not reflected in government, as NASA’s budget was cut again and again.
Today, The Planetary Society continues this work, under the leadership of CEO Bill Nye, as the world’s largest and most influential non-profit space organization. The organization is supported by over 50,000 members in over 100 countries, and by hundreds of volunteers around the world.
Our mission is to empower the world’s citizens to advance space science and exploration. We advocate for space and planetary science funding in government, inspire and educate people around the world, and develop and fund groundbreaking space science and technology.
We introduce people to the wonders of the cosmos, bridging the gap between the scientific community and the general public to inspire and educate people from all walks of life.
We give every citizen of the planet the opportunity to make their voices heard in government and effect real change in support of space exploration.
And we bring ordinary people directly to the frontier of exploration as we crowdfund innovative and exciting space technologies.
The Planetary Society is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States.
Our volunteer Board of Directors is responsible for governing and setting The Planetary Society's policies and future directions. They are all leaders, chosen for their passion about and knowledge of space exploration.
The Planetary Society is proud to honor those in our community who help to promote the future of space exploration through two very special awards, The Cosmos Award for Outstanding Public Presentation of Science and The Thomas O. Paine Memorial Award for the Advancement of Human Exploration of Mars.
Founded in 1980 by Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray, and Louis Friedman, The Planetary Society has inspired the people of Earth to explore other worlds, understand our own, and seek life elsewhere for over 30 years.
Become a member of The Planetary Society and together we will create the future of space exploration.
Take action today and your gift will go twice as far to increase NASA budgets and advance space priorities.